RoadVitals

2002 Chevrolet S10 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Sep 30, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 213 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Chevrolet S10 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Sep 30, 2018

TRUCK OR VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11132351
Incident
Sep 12, 2017
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Feb 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET S-10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG ON LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE AIR BAG WITH THE SWITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS PUSHED BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10836521
Incident
Aug 10, 2015
Electrical
Filed May 13, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET S-10. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE ABS INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE PARK, NEUTRAL, AND DRIVE INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE LIGHTS DIM. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS EMPTY EVEN WHEN IT IS FULL OF GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,000.

NHTSA ID
10227617
Incident
Apr 20, 2008
Mileage
107,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 30, 2008

STARTED WITH ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT STAYING ON THE FUEL GAUGE SAYS LOW FUEL AND FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY AND THE INDICATOR THAT TELLS WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN NO LONGER VISIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10226121
Incident
Apr 2, 2008
Mileage
107,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 18, 2006

BATTERY LEAKED BATTERY ACID TO THE POINT THAT THE POST COMPLETELY DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE BATTERY UNIT. WHEN EXPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD THAT THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM VERY FREQUENTLY WITH THESE VEHICLES. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED WITH NO POWER. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY DRIVING WHEN THE CABLE DISCONNECTED IT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS PROBLEMS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10171267
Incident
May 5, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 22, 2005

2002 CHEVY S-10 BATTERY ACID LEAKED. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10146494
Incident
Jun 12, 2005
Mileage
15,240 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 11, 2005
Fire reported

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON JULY 3, 2005. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HE HAD SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASH. ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE FUSE BOX HAD SHORTED OUT IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A FIRE REPORT FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT YET DETERMINED WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10128365
Incident
Jul 3, 2005
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Apr 26, 2005

TRUCK STARTED STALLING, WHILE AT IDOL AND WHEN I PUT INTO DRIVE. IT AS IF IT HAS NO GAS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10118498
Incident
Mar 24, 2005
Mileage
24,324 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 8, 2005

WHILE DRIVING, THE OWNER SMELLED BURNING WIRES. THE ALARM WENT OFF, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED MOVING, AND THE HORN STARTED BLOWING INADVERTENTLY. ALSO, THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ,WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INSTRUCTED THE CONSUMER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A G.M. DEALERSHIP. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND HAD BEEN RUN UNDER THE CARPET ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THEY WERE WORN AND CORRODED, THE WIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONETS MALFUNCTIONING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10113639
Incident
Feb 25, 2005
Mileage
61,900 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 2, 2003

VEHICLE WILL JUST STOP RUNNING. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED. AFTER BEING REPLACED IT QUIT 15 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPAIRED IT. THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. VEHICLE WILL START AGAIN AFTER SITTING SEVERAL HOURS. THEY TOLD US TO DRIVE UNTIL IT QUIT AGAIN. FRUSTRATED, WE TOOK IT TO A MORE SOPHISTICATED DEALERSHIP WHO ALSO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND TOLD US TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT ACTED UP AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS QUIT 2 MORE TIMES, BUT ON THE WEEKEND BUT STARTS IN A FEW HOURS. *LA

NHTSA ID
10045293
Incident
Nov 2, 2003
Mileage
30,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 5, 2003
1 injury reported

MY FINGERS WERE BURNNED WHEN I TOUCHED THE INSIDE RIGHT-SIDE WALL OF THE ASH TRAY IN MY 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. LATER ON I FIGURED OUT IT'S A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES AT NIGHT, THE ILLUMINATING LIGHT INSIDE THE ASH TRAY HEATS THE INSIDE RIGHT-SIDE WALL TO EXTREMELY HOT, WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A FIRE. TO PREVENT THE BAD THING HAPPENS, I KEEP THE ASH TRAY OPENED TO LET HEAT DISSIPATE OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10021094
Incident
May 15, 2003
Mileage
17,200 mi
BrakesElectricalFuel system
Filed Dec 2, 2002

COMPUTER CHIP CONSTANTLY FAILS WHICH CAUSES A CHAIN REACTION OF FAILURES TO OCCUR. THE TRUCK IS UNRELIABLE WITH VARIOUS BRAKE FAILURES AND CONSTANT TOWING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP IS PATCHING THE TRUCK WITH MINOR REPAIRS INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY DOING A THOROUGH INSPECTION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID
8023533
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Aug 13, 2002
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported

DRIVER FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD, ROLLED A FEW TIMES AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS STEERING FAILURE AND FEELS THAT IT PROBABLY WAS THE FUEL SHUT OFF MECHANISM (ELECTRICAL)THAT FAILED, IN WHICH THE GAS CONTINUED TO FEED THE INITIAL FIRE. *SCC

NHTSA ID
8016158
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
Electrical
Filed Jul 19, 2002

VEHICLE HAS STALLED 4 TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. TAKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES, FUEL MODULE/FUEL FILTER, AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WERE REPLACED. DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. AT THIS TIME DEALER WAS REPLACING IGNIION SWITCH.*AK CONSUMER ADDED THAT A NEW COMPUTER WAS PLACED IN THE TRUCK AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THEY ARE 100% SURE THAT THIS IS THE PROBLEM.(PICKED TRUCK UP ON 25-JUL-2002 AND SO FAR NO PROBLEM) *SCC

NHTSA ID
8014353
Incident
May 16, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .